I bought an ignition switch to put on my boat motor but not sure how the wiring needs to be hooked up?

Question

The switch has five terminals and they are like this:

_

s

_ _

B I

_ _

R A

Can someone please help me out? And what gauge cable should I use to hook this up?

Answer 1

I hope you can understand all this, sorry, it best I can do.

First! Before I lose you in the below explain. I would use 12 Ga. wires with Blue Crimp Connectors. 14 Ga. May be good. I just go bigger as it not that much more expensive. (Just for example; say 2 wires of 14 Ga. cost $1 per foot? 12 Ga. will be about $1.50 per foot???  So, it up to you). You could use 12 Ga. From battery to switch "B" and 14 Ga. from switch to the other stuff.

An OHM meter be a good idea to be sure. You can turn the switch to different positions to see what go Hot when.

I try to help, but, no promise this correct.

Key/Switch turns clockwise. #1 position is off. #2 position is on. #3 position engages the starter and returns to #2 when released. Now, counterclockwise from #1 it should turn one time, this Accessory (We call this #5!!) for running things like a Radio with the Ignition off. If, this not how you switch works, then I may not be explaining correct. So, #1, #2, #3 #5 for examples. (IF there an extra turn clockwise it #4) This should be all the key turn.

The colors I use may not be the colors you use, this to keep things separated to explain. You can use all red if you know what go where.

B = Battery, this should be red wire to Battery +

I ( i ) = Ignition, this should be yellow wire to the ignition on engine.

S = Starter, this should be a white wire to the starter Solenoid.

A = Accessory and be a Purple wire to Radio or whatever you want to be on when engine not running.

R = This one leaves me guessing!!!!! But, I will say more below. It be orange.  (Main Fuse Panel???)

B, I, S, A, R

Here how you check with an OHM Meter.

Use Red connector as + wire and think of it as coming from your battery. It go to B at ALL times.

In #1 position no connector works this is OFF.

Now turn switch counterclockwise (This #5 position). Touch Black to ALL other posts. "A" should move meter and "MAYBE" "R" too.

Turn back to #1 OFF.

Turn to #2 "I" should move meter. Also, "A" and "R" may work too.

Turn to #3 "S" should move meter only then and not move in any other position.

"R" may be a connector you not use!!! Depends. It may also be used for Running Lights (14 Ga. wire) OR Main Fuse Panel (12 Ga. wire)! On, at all times with key "OR" you may have a #4 position for this!! (Now you know why I not say #4 earlier it goes here).

Switch;

http://www.iboats.com/4_Position_Ignitio...

Meter;

http://www.colomar.com/Shavano/dvom.gif